Press Releases
Duckworth: Why Did DOD Use Japanese Internment Camp Ruling to Justify Actions?
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today wrote to Secretary of Defense James Mattis to express alarm over the Department of Defense's (DOD) positive embrace of a long disgraced World War II-era Supreme Court ruling that allowed Japanese-American curfews and internment camps to justify Defense Department policy. In a recent court filing, DOD positively cited the Hirabayashi v United States decision - one of three infamous "anti-canon" U.S. Supreme Court rulings that led to … Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration Proposal to Roll Back Federal Fuel Efficiency Standards
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to the Trump Administration's proposal to roll back federal fuel efficiency standards - which support more than 9,900 jobs in Illinois - and revoke the right of states to protect their residents from tailpipe emissions and carbon pollution, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "This proposal, which was drafted by disgraced former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt as a gift to the largest oil companies, will force families to … Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Duckworth & Brown Ask Cabinet Officials for Update on Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to several Trump Administration cabinet officials requesting an update by August 9th on the President's interagency task force on lead exposure and asking them to develop a comprehensive strategy to eliminate the risk of childhood lead poisoning. In October 2017, the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Environmental … Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
EPA Acting Administrator Wheeler Commits to Working with Duckworth on Legislation to Improve Hiring Transparency at
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler agreed to work with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) on her legislation to improve transparency in hiring practices at the EPA while appearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee yesterday. Duckworth introduced the EPA Special Hiring Authority Transparency Act with EPW Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE) in May to strengthen oversight of EPA hiring practices after disgraced … Continue Reading
August 01, 2018
As Senate Prepares to Debate FAA, Duckworth Warns Against Rollback of Critical Air Safety Measures
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today at the Air Safety Forum event hosted by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), combat Veteran, pilot and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke about her efforts to make aviation safer for all Americans as well as more accessible for traveling mothers. Duckworth also detailed the serious risks that would come from weakening pilot certification and qualification requirements, commonly referred to as the 1,500 hour rule, or allowing single pilot all-cargo operations. … Continue Reading
August 01, 2018
Senate Committee Passes Duckworth Bill to Improve Public Safety on Trains & Protect Rail Crewmembers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed bipartisan legislation today, which was introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Hoeven (R-ND), to improve public safety and discourage violence aboard passenger trains. The Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act would enhance federal protections for passenger rail crewmembers to reflect those that are provided to airline crewmembers so that any assault of a rail crewmember, including … Continue Reading
July 31, 2018
Duckworth Helps Introduce Bill to Block Publication of 3D Printable Firearm Blueprints
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and 21 of her colleagues in introducing legislation to prevent the online publication of blueprints that can be used to make fully-functioning firearms with a 3D printer. These dangerous weapons are often made with resin or plastic and are virtually undetectable when carried through a metal detector or past security. The introduction of the 3D Printed Gun Safety Act comes after the Trump … Continue Reading
July 31, 2018
Duckworth Opens Senate Constituent Service Office in Rock Island
[ROCK ISLAND, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) opened a new Senate constituent service office in Rock Island today, located at 1823 2nd Avenue, Suite 2. The Senator's staff held an open house to launch the new office and give community members an opportunity to meet Senate constituent service representatives who will be working in the area. Duckworth's Rock Island Office will provide a number of services to Illinoisans that include assistance with Veterans benefits, Social Security, … Continue Reading
July 27, 2018
Duckworth: Trump Administration Created Humanitarian Crisis, Unacceptable That They are Unable to Fix It
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke out today as the Trump Administration failed to meet yesterday's second court-mandated deadline to reunite all families. Duckworth was joined by members of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is currently challenging the Trump Administration's practice of forcibly separating asylum-seeking parents and young children in court. A photo of today's press conference is available here. "I'm here today because the Trump … Continue Reading
July 26, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Inspector General Report Evaluating HUD’s Oversight of Alexander Housing County Authority
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the release of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report evaluating HUD's oversight of the Alexander County Housing Authority (ACHA), which was taken into receivership by HUD two years ago, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement: "There is no question that the residents of Elmwood and McBride suffered through decades of neglect, inadequate oversight, … Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
On Eve of the ADA’s 28th Anniversary, Duckworth Highlights Need to Protect and Expand Disability Rights
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today at the Beyond the ADA: Introducing the Disability Justice Initiative event hosted by the Center for American Progress (CAP), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke about her efforts to protect the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the importance of expanding disability rights to better ensure access and equality for Americans with disabilities. Earlier this year, Duckworth led the push to block the misleadingly-named ADA Education and Reform Act, a … Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
Duckworth Meets With Surface Transportation Board Nominee Marty Oberman
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Marty Oberman, the nominee to be a member of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Created in 1996, the STB is responsible for resolving railroad rate and service disputes, along with reviewing proposed railroad mergers. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Duckworth will participate in Oberman's confirmation on Thursday. A photograph of the meeting is available here. "I shared … Continue Reading
July 24, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $70,000 for Strategic Economic Planning in Western Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $70,000 in federal funding today to help create jobs and support economic development throughout Western Illinois. This funding is provided by the Economic Development District Planning Program, a program within the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) that assists communities as they develop and implement plans to enhance their local economies. "It's important for … Continue Reading
July 23, 2018
Duckworth Votes to Confirm Robert Wilkie as VA Secretary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After the Senate voted to confirm Robert Wilkie as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs, released the following statement: "During our meeting earlier this month, Robert Wilkie pledged that he would oppose VA privatization and showed that he is committed to maintaining the VA's mission as the principle coordinator of care," Duckworth said. "I hope … Continue Reading
July 20, 2018
Duckworth, Murray and 20 Colleagues Introduce Legislation to End the Trump Administration’s Practice of Detaining and Shackling Pregnant Women
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 20 of their colleagues introduced the Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act this week to protect the health and well-being of pregnant and young women in custody by establishing new standards of care and transparency and prohibiting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from shackling pregnant women in its custody. "The Trump Administration's practice of shackling and detaining … Continue Reading
July 19, 2018
Duckworth: Kavanaugh Unwilling to Protect Many of the Individual Rights and Legal Protections We Hold Dear
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today: "In order to earn the consent of the United States Senate, any President's Supreme Court nominee should be able to demonstrate integrity, wisdom, independence and a commitment to interpreting the United States Constitution and applying the law in a fair and principled manner. After carefully reviewing Judge Kavanaugh's opinions, speeches, presentations and prior confirmation hearing testimony, it is … Continue Reading
July 18, 2018
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Reunify and Protect Immigrant Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and 10 colleagues in introducing the Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant, Toddler and Other Children Expeditiously (REUNITE) Act this week. The legislation that would immediately reunify all families and establish a permanent system of coordination between agencies and non-governmental organizations to protect detained immigrants with … Continue Reading
July 18, 2018
Duckworth Announces $1.6 Million for the National Runaway Safeline
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced a total of $1,600,000 in federal funding today for the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). This funding comes through U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will assist the NRS in fulfilling their mission to keep runaways, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the street. "Every child should have access to a safe place to sleep at night," said Duckworth. "Yet, far too many young Americans end up on the street … Continue Reading
July 18, 2018
Duckworth Meets with Council on Environmental Quality Nominee Mary Neumayr
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Mary Neumayr, designee to be chair of the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) if confirmed by the Senate. Duckworth and Neumayr discussed the deficiencies of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the urgent need to strengthen the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) to better protect the public from neurotoxins and other water contaminants. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on … Continue Reading
July 17, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on FCC’s Sinclair-Tribune Merger Action
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai's statement yesterday expressing "serious concerns" about Sinclair Broadcast Group's proposed acquisition of Tribune Media and calling for the FCC's review of the potential acquisition to be paused so certain legal questions can be resolved by the FCC's administrative law judge, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: "After months of sounding the … Continue Reading
